I am taking a look at various distros and so far, they have all let me run from the DVD.
I wanted to get a look at it before installing alongside windows 7.
I can’t figure out how to do it so maybe it is not available.
Is there another distr that would look and feel pretty much the same and that I could test without installing ?
thanks
On 08/06/2013 09:06 PM, hextejas wrote:
>
> I am taking a look at various distros and so far, they have all let me
> run from the DVD.
what? its there…just go to http://software.opensuse.org/ and pick
either the “Live GNOME” or “Live KDE” DVD, read all the good stuff
(start up guide, release notes, download help, how to verify your
download, how to burn your install media, etc etc etc) and “Have a
lot of fun”
ps: if you are completely new to Linux i’d suggest KDE would probably
easier to understand than GNOME (but, you can find folks with a
completely different opinion)
–
“It is far easier to read, understand and follow the instructions
than to undo the problems caused by not.” so wrote dd on 23 Jan 11
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat http://tinyurl.com/DD-Complaints
I sure read that wrong. I thought that the “live KDE” would give me just that, the KDE desktop after I had installed Opensuse.
Oh well, back to the testing.
And I do want KDE so I can run KMyMoney. I think it requires it.
Also you are correct in that I am very new to this.
Thanks again.
hextejas wrote:
>
> DenverD;2577328 Wrote:
>> On 08/06/2013 09:06 PM, hextejas wrote:
>>>
>>> I am taking a look at various distros and so far, they have all let
>> me
>>> run from the DVD.
>>
>> what? its there…just go to ‘software.opensuse.org: Download openSUSE
>> 12.3’ (http://software.opensuse.org/) and pick
>> either the “Live GNOME” or “Live KDE”
>> ‘DD Caveat’ (http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat) ‘Complaints’
>> (http://tinyurl.com/DD-Complaints)
>
> I sure read that wrong. I thought that the “live KDE” would give me
> just that, the KDE desktop after I had installed Opensuse.
> Oh well, back to the testing.
> And I do want KDE so I can run KMyMoney. I think it requires it.
> Also you are correct in that I am very new to this.
> Thanks again.
>
>
KMyMoney might run on GNOME too as long as you have the KDE base
libraries installed.
–
GNOME 3.6.2
openSUSE Release 12.3 (Dartmouth) 64-bit
Kernel Linux 3.7.10-1.16-desktop
On 08/07/2013 12:26 AM, hextejas wrote:
> I thought that the “live KDE” would give me
> just that, the KDE desktop after I had installed Opensuse.
no problem…LOTs of learning available here 
so, you just
-download
-check the image with md5 or sha
-‘burn’ the disk or pen drive-
-boot from it
it will stop at a page where you can select from several possible
ways to go…kinda like this http://tinyurl.com/b856ekd
but that is an older, different version…
-first select “Check Installation Media” (any error is too many)
-then next time select the “Live” option and then you can “Try before
you (do not) buy”
one thing to be aware of is that when running live from the DVD it
will be slower opening new programs (because reading from the install
media will always be slower than reading from a hard drive…
Have a lot of fun.
lots to learn…look here to get started http://tinyurl.com/4qn7pmy
lots is new and different, but well worth the trouble.
–
dd
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Complaints
On 2013-08-06, hextejas <hextejas@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
> I am taking a look at various distros and so far, they have all let me
> run from the DVD.
> I wanted to get a look at it before installing alongside windows 7.
As others have said, the Live KDE (or Live GNOME) versions of 32/64 bit openSUSE 12.3 are designed for this purpose.
Bear in mind when you’re trying either, since they’re running from USB/CD, that they will run much slower than a proper
install.
> I can’t figure out how to do it so maybe it is not available.
> Is there another distr that would look and feel pretty much the same
> and that I could test without installing ?
Remember a standard distro consists of three things:
I suspect that #1 will not be of great concern to you at the moment.
Concerning #2, AFAIK all implementations of openSUSE use an RPM-based package manager (zypper) and if you don’t know the
difference between deb and rpm packages, your choice of distro shouldn’t affected by the specific package manager until
you do.
In the case of #3, normal openSUSE installs gives the choices in the case of #3 (i.e. KDE/GNOME/etc…), which you
choose purely as a matter of personal taste - this is where the Live versions are very useful to help you decide which
desktop environment to choose. Just because you choose one desktop environment, it doesn’t simply mean you can’t install
programs designed for other desktop environments, because the necessary librarites (Qt/GTK/etc…) can be installed as
additional program dependencies. I can see in the KDE repository that KMyMoney is already available, and it should be
very straightforward to install once you’ve added the repository after openSUSE installation.
Well, this does not portend well.
I downloaded the proper iso, made sure that the checksum was correct and have had 3 different freezes.
I actually downloaded it twice. The 1st time I went straight to the trial without a checksum verification.
Try #1, DL 1
System got part way through, I got a splash screen talking about stuff and a suggestion to read more on KDE. I poked the KDE link and it locked up tight.
Try # 2, DL 1
System got part way through but I didn’t get as far as before when it locked up. I thought it might be a faulty download so I did a checksum download for DL 2
Try # 3, DL 2
System got part way into the install and locked up tight. There were I think, 2 icons on the desktop, a HDD and a screwdriver.
By lock up tight I mean no mouse movement, pressing any keys does nothing, ctl-alt-del does nothing.
I have an emachines, with an Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 @ 2.7GHz
4GB ram
Lots of disk space
Nvidia Geforec 7050, 620i
This is not good.
and thanks
hextejas wrote:
> Well, this does not portend well.
>
> This is not good.
> and thanks
Actually, it’s pretty good for you in your situation of evaluating
distros, because the most important thing about any distro is the
quality of the community support around it. And you’ve now got the
perfect opportunity to discover that for openSUSE.
It sounds like a hardware incompatibility or problem. I don’t know
enough about your hardware to suggest what it might be myself. Probably
the best diagnostic technique will be to see what configuration has been
set up by one of the other distros. Might be worth posting the result of
lspci from one of the other distros.
On 2013-08-07, hextejas <hextejas@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
> Well, this does not portend well.
Sorry to hear you are having problems. It would be helpful to have detailed list of your hardware and the exact
version of openSUSE you are trying to install e.g. Live vs DVD, 32-bit vs 64-bit.
> I downloaded the proper iso, made sure that the checksum was correct
> and have had 3 different freezes.
I must admit on one of my boxes, openSUSE installs always freezes at the stage when it’s trying to detect a piece of
my hardware (in this case Asus Xonar Deluxe soundcard). As a result I tend to have to configure openSUSE installs
manually. If your freeze is occuring during the install and you are using the DVD ISO, have you tried installing
setting the kernel in safe mode, which can be done on the first boot screen?
> I actually downloaded it twice. The 1st time I went straight to the
> trial without a checksum verification.
> Try #1, DL 1
> System got part way through, I got a splash screen talking about stuff
> and a suggestion to read more on KDE. I poked the KDE link and it locked
> up tight.
> Try # 2, DL 1
> System got part way through but I didn’t get as far as before when it
> locked up. I thought it might be a faulty download so I did a checksum
> download for DL 2
Please specify where it locked-up. Was it before or after all the installation files were copied to the computer?
> I have an emachines, with an Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 @ 2.7GHz
> 4GB ram
> Lots of disk space
> Nvidia Geforec 7050, 620i
I see nothing unusual in the hardware here but you need to specify which other USB/PCI devices you have attached.
> This is not good and thanks
I quite agree! Remember that Linux is not free; you just pay with time rather than money. Unfortunately because openSUSE
tries to be everything to everyone, the generality means that it can sometimes stumble in certain areas, especially when
propietary drivers would help a lot. For this reason (and it really pains me to say this!), I usually suggest to new
Linux users that they do not commence with openSUSE as their first distro. Instead, it can be less frustrating to start
with something with `batteries-installed’ such as Linux MINT.
As David has implied, however, the advantage you have with openSUSE is the expertise and time-generosity of the
community who are happy to help you. If you stick with it, you will be rewarded in the long run but please do not be
surprised if people start asking detailed questions since the answers are very pertinent in diagnosing the problem.
Well, I will try and answer the questions.
Remember that I am running from the “Live” version so there are, as far as I can tell, no files being installed.
In any respect, when I got to the point that I was able to try the KDE link, isn’t that an indication that Suse is running ?
However maybe Suse was trying to access the internet via the KDE link and that might have caused the hiccough since I am running wireless. I might try it again wired.
I will try and do a “Live” with another Distro so I can get the lspci report.
thanks again and I will post more as it develops.
I do agree that the community support is critical but Suse scares me a bit in that, had I been in the middle of installing it to co-exist with Windows 7, and it froze like that, it might do irreparable damage to the Windows stuff. That’s scary.
talk to you later.
On Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:46:01 +0000, hextejas wrote:
> I do agree that the community support is critical but Suse scares me a
> bit in that, had I been in the middle of installing it to co-exist with
> Windows 7, and it froze like that, it might do irreparable damage to the
> Windows stuff. That’s scary.
A live media version does not install anything unless you run the
installer. It runs entirely from the USB drive or DVD. It isn’t
touching your Windows installation. If you want to be absolutely sure of
this, disconnect your hard drive before booting the media (but really,
that isn’t necessary because it doesn’t touch your hard drive at all
unless you actually run the installer from the live media).
So don’t be scared by the lockups, just let us help you by describing
what you saw and what hardware you’re using - we’re here to help.
Jim
–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C
On 2013-08-07, hextejas <hextejas@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
> Well, I will try and answer the questions.
Thank you for your patience
> Remember that I am running from the “Live” version so there are, as far
> as I can tell, no files being installed.
In which case, I’m confused by your previous statement…
On 2013-08-07, hextejas <hextejas@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
> Try # 3, DL 2
> System got part way into the install and locked up tight. There were I
> think, 2 icons on the desktop, a HDD and a screwdriver.
… since I now don’t know what you mean by `install’ then? At least we’ve established you’re just using the Live KDE
download.
In any respect, when I got to the point that I was able to try the KDE
link, isn’t that an indication that Suse is running ?
Yes it is. Again I ask: have you tried booting in safe mode?
However maybe Suse was trying to access the internet via the KDE link
and that might have caused the hiccough since I am running wireless. I
might try it again wired.
This would not cause openSUSE to lock up. Can I confirm you are to boot into KDE openSUSE Live with a desktop screen and
(until you click the KDE link), your mouse works and you can open a file browser?
I will try and do a “Live” with another Distro so I can get the lspci
report.
Hopefully you already know what hardware you have in your computer without lspci there to help you. If you have a
working KDE desktop, there’s no reason why you can’t press Alt-F2, type konsole', then press Enter’.
thanks again and I will post more as it develops.
Thank you, but please try and keep your posts focussed on answering our questions. This is now the third request we’ve
given you to list your hardware, and this is in_general more useful than a running commentary.
I do agree that the community support is critical but Suse scares me a
bit in that, had I been in the middle of installing it to co-exist with
Windows 7, and it froze like that, it might do irreparable damage to the
Windows stuff. That’s scary.
An operating system is replaceable, only data isn’t. Before you do anything, backup your data. And for convenience you
should make yourself a Windows 7 repair disk. I’ve had many Windows/S.u.S.E. dual-boots for about 15 years and have never
done irreparable damage to the `Windows stuff’.
Let me see if I can answer your questions after I give an update.
I tried another install, and I call it an install though nothing is getting installed. I have no other simple word for it.
It’s a live and there is no indication of progress except for the gecko getting darker and the icons appearing on to the desktop.
I have had 4 different results with the icons.
I tried with a Linux Mint live and got the same results, stalled after the 5th icon
I tried again with the 32 bit version same results. I am running this now with a Precise Puppy version so I can do a lspci.
Lol, though I don’t know how to get the results to this post.
Is there anything else I can show you about this problem ?
Oh yeah, I am running with a wired ethernet.
I did
$ lspci >1.txt
tada !!!
On 2013-08-07 15:16, hextejas wrote:
> I thought it might be a faulty download so I did a checksum
> download for DL 2
>
> Try # 3, DL 2
> System got part way into the install and locked up tight. There were I
> think, 2 icons on the desktop, a HDD and a screwdriver.
Download check, and media check OK?
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))
This may be a video card problem I think what you ate trying to describe is the KDE boot screen If so that is about the point where the video card drivers are started
At the bottom of the first menu there should be some option. try the noKMS option before starting the desktop. That will force a lower level driver to load. If that works then later after a full install you will want to add the NVIDIA propritary driver. It is not hard and we can help when/if the time comes
Well, it worked gogalthorp. At least I have a desktop and am posting this through Firefox.
So, your recommendation is do an install and then figure out which Nvidia driver to use ?
Please understand that I will want to install this along side of Windows 7 and as I mentioned before, if I were to get a lock-up during the install I am afraid that it will hose some part of Windows 7.
Will the install give me an option for NOKMS as a video mode ?
and thanks again.
Further to the installation:
My plan is to clean up the Windows 7 disk, defrag, and compress it by 300GB.
Then I had planned to install OpenSuse into the 300gb. Am I correct in that the install will compute and recommend a series of partition sizes and I can merely take the suggestions ?
I am hoping that it will not give me too many options necessitating me having to read reams of links in order to figure out what to do.
I have done a lot of reading so far and there are myriad discussions about Grub and others about how the dual boot gets set up. I am hoping the install will take care of most if not all of it.
Of all the install articles, is there one in particular that stands above the others ?
and thanks again.
On 2013-08-07 23:06, hextejas wrote:
> Please understand that I will want to install this along side of
> Windows 7 and as I mentioned before, if I were to get a lock-up during
> the install I am afraid that it will hose some part of Windows 7.
To avoid disaster you have to prepare for it - which means that when
installing any operating system on a machine that already contains
data or another operating system, you need have a backup good enough to
restore original conditions.
I would create an image of that machine on another external disk. Plus
tell Windows to create a recovery disk. I understand it can solve some
situations without having to do a full backup recovery.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))
On 2013-08-07 23:26, hextejas wrote:
>
> Further to the installation:
>
> My plan is to clean up the Windows 7 disk, defrag, and compress it by
> 300GB.
Me, being paranoid, would make an image before, and another after. Being
a bit less paranoid, I would make the second image on top of the first one.
> Then I had planned to install OpenSuse into the 300gb. Am I correct in
> that the install will compute and recommend a series of partition sizes
> and I can merely take the suggestions ?
> I am hoping that it will not give me too many options necessitating me
> having to read reams of links in order to figure out what to do.
It will certainly give you a proposal, unless impossible.
For instance, if you have space, but all 4 primary partitions
are in use, it is impossible to continue.
The proposal should work, it does most of the occasions, but it is a
good idea to think it over. If on doubt, just ask us - nothing will be
written to disk till you tell it to go ahead.
> Of all the install articles, is there one in particular that stands
> above the others ?
There is a book
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4, with Evergreen, x86_64 “Celadon” (Minas Tirith))
Glad to hear video is often a problem but can almost always be worked around.
If you have a BIOS then you will be doing a MBR install but if you have a UEFI machine you will probably be doing a EFI install but it may still be possible for a MBR install. Note that with EFI you are not limited to 4 primary partitions.
So if BIOS and you have 3 or fewer partitions all is good and the installer will by default create 3 new partitions (perhaps in an extended partition which allow many logical partitions) of appropriate size, Note if the you may change the defaults but unless you under stand partitions or have special needs probably best to simply take them
UEFI installs may have a problem with secure boot so turn it off or be sure you check the box for secure boot in the install menu.
About the only way to hurt windows is to deliberately install on top of the Windows partition. The installer will give you a chance to review what it intends to do so pay careful attention and don’t just blind click through screens. Until you commit to partitioning scheme you can back out or quit.
And follow the 3 laws of computing
backup
backup
backup
hehehe